[Read before the Wellington Branch, September 25, 1946; received by the Editor, August 8, 1946.]

Comparatively little was known of the echinoderm fauna of the southern fiords of New Zealand until 1946, when a collection of 43 specimens was made by members of the “New Golden Hind” Expedition. For the opportunity to examine this material, which will be described elsewhere, I have to thank Mr. R. W. Willett, Director of the Expedition. Of the echinoderms a number of ophiuroids belong to a species apparently new.

Fig. 1.—Ophiomyxa duskiensis.—A, aboral surface of arm, midway along its length. B, adoral surface of arm, midway, along its length. C, adoral surface of disc. ad., adoral plate; d., dorsal arm-plate; g.c., genital cleft; 1., lateral arm-plate; o.p., oral papilla; o.s., oral shield; v., ventral arm-plate.

Ophiomyxa duskiensis sp. nov. (Fig. 1.)

Dimensions: R, 15–16 mm.; r, 4–6 mm.; R/r, 3.4 (average).

Colour: Aboral surface dark grey shading gradually to paler grey on the adoral surface.

Arms: Dorsal armplates 2 in cach segment, longer than broad, symmetrically disposed on either side of the radial axis, lying close

to each other, but separated from the adjoining pairs in neighbouring segments by an intervening band of dermis entirely lacking mosaic granules or other platelets. Ventral armplates unpaired, radially situated, pentagonal with concave distal base and concave proximal sides. Lateral armplates bearing 4, rarely 3, spines.

Disc: Oral shields large, almost obscuring the adoral plates, broader than long, bluntly triangular with a convex proximal base. Oral papillae 7, serrate, large and crowded, tending to overlap especially at the proximal extremity of the jaw, completely obscuring the oral plates. Genital clefts extending to the third arm segment.

Type: In the Zoology Department Museum, Victoria University College, Wellington.

Stella Cove: 7–10 fathoms, 1/2/46, 3 specimens.

Dusky Sound, at mouth and centre of Wet Jacket Arm: 3 fathoms, 13/2/46, 2 specimens (type locality).

Long Sound, Narrow Bend Reach: 22 fathoms, 28/1/46, 3 specimens.

Chalky Inlet, North Port: 6–12 fathoms, 4/2/46, 2 specimens.